Càrn Liath

The walk up Càrn Liath is proper straightforward, which makes it all the more appealing if you're staying around Ballater and don't fancy anything too gnarly. At 2,408 feet, it's the sort of hill that rewards you without requiring mountaineering skills - though the Cairngorms demand respect in poor weather, as always.

The approach is rewarding. You climb through mixed terrain, picking your way across moorland and stone, and the views back towards Braemar and the surrounding peaks are genuinely excellent. On a clear day you can see for miles. The summit itself is marked by a small stone cairn, the kind you find across Scotland where someone's clearly been counting rocks for decades.

Who should bother? Walkers looking for a half-day objective will find it satisfying. Families with older kids keen to bag a Munro-adjacent peak will manage it fine. Historians and peak-baggers will know it sits within one of Scotland's great walking landscapes. Casual day-trippers hoping for a gentle stroll? You'll find the gradient a touch steep, though it's manageable enough.

Allow two to three hours return if you're moving at a reasonable pace. The path isn't always obvious, so go in daylight and check the weather. It's free, obviously - it's a Scottish hill.

If you're based at Braemar Caravan Park, just four miles down the road, Càrn Liath makes a cracking morning or afternoon sortie. You'll be back for a proper tea.